Thread cleaning process and apparatus



Sept. 25, 1956 s. FURST 2,763,913

THREAD CLEANING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed April 28. 1955 I jnverizor:STEP/w FURST ice TEBREAD (ILEANING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Stefan Furst,M. Gladbach, Germany, assignor to Walter Rainer-s, Wmdniel (LowerRhine), Germany Application April 28, 1953, Serial No. 351,636

Claims priority, application Germany May '7, 1952 19 Claims. ((11.28-68) The present invention relates to thread cleaners.

More particularly, the present invention relates to thread cleaners ofthe type used in spool winding machines, for example.

Thread cleaners of this type generally include an apparatus for movingthe thread to be cleaned past a knife edge which cleans the thread. Aslong as the thread does not exceed a predetermined diameter it movesfreely past this knife edge, and any foreign matter or enlargements onthe thread are removed by the knife edge. This thread cleaning knifeedge forms one of the limits of a predetermined gap through which thethread moves.

One of the principal defects of known structures of this type is thatthe material removed from the thread during the cleaning thereof clingsto the knife edge and after a given period of time stops up the gapthrough which the thread moves or does not permit an efficient cleaningaction to take place. Very often, such stopping up of this gap alsoresults in unnecessary thread breakage. It has already been proposed toprovide an apparatus for blowing the material accumulating at the gapaway from the latter, but such a blowing apparatus is extremelyinconvenient and does not reliably remove the material accumulating atthe gap.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the abovedrawbacks by providing an exceedingly simple apparatus for preventingmaterial cleaned from the thread from accumulating excessively at thegap through which the thread passes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a materialremoving means which itself defines part of the gap through which thethread moves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means forcleaning the element which carries away material accumulating at thegap.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatuswhich is adjustable so that threads of all different types and sizes maybe cleaned with the apparatus of the invention.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process forcleaning the thread in such a way that the material removed from thethread does not accumulate excessively at the gap through which thethread moves.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists ofa thread cleaning apparatus which includes a support having a cleaningmember mounted thereon, this cleaning member having a thread cleaningknife edge. A roller is turnably mounted on the support for movementabout its own axis and is located at a predetermined distance from theknife edge to form with the latter. a gap through which the thread to becleaned is adapted to move, this roller preferably being formed with anelongated groove in its outer surface. The thread is moved in apredetermined direction through the gap, and the roller is turned sothat the surface portion thereof adjacent to the knife edge of thecleaning member moves in a direction opposite to the direction of threadmovement. A brush is provided to clean the roller.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawing, which shows one possible apparatusconstructed in accordance with the invention, it will be seen that thethread 1 is moved by the diagrammatically illustrated feeding means 10,which comprises, for example, a motor 11 for winding the thread It ontothe spool 12, to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, in the direction of thearrow. The thread 1 includes, by way of example, an enlargement 2 whichis to be cleaned therefrom.

A stationary support 3 carries the cleaning member 5 which is providedwith a thread cleaning knife edge 5', and a roller 4 is mounted forrotation about its own axis on the support 3, this roller 4 being spacedfrom the knife edge 5' to form with the latter a gap through which thethread 1 passes.

The cleaning member 5 is turnably mounted on the support 3 for turningmovement "about an axis parallel to that of roller 4, and a wire spring13 engages the support 3 and cleaning member 5 to urge the latter toturn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing. Anadjustable stop member in the form of the screw member 6 which isth-readedly mounted on the support 3 engages the member 5 to limitmovement thereof under the influence of spring 13 so that the stopmember 6 may be turned to adjust the size of the gap through which thethread passes.

The outer surface of the roller 4 is irregular, and in the illustratedexample thisirregularity takes the form of a groove 7 formed in theouter surface of the roller 4 and being substantially parallel to thekife edge 5' normal to the thread 1. The groove 7 preferably is providedwith a sharp edge 70! at the outer surface of the roller 4.

This roller 4 is turned about its axis through the medium of a motor 14connected thereto, and the roller 4 turns in a clockwise direction, asviewed in the drawing and as shown by the arrow on the roller 4. Thus,the surface portion of roller 4 adjacent to the cleaning edge 5 moves ina direction opposite to the direction of thread movement.

When the enlargement 2 arrives at the thread cleaning knife edge 5', thefuzz which forms this enlargement is removed by the knife edge so thatthe diameter of the thread remains constant. The removed thread fuzz orother foreign matter accumulates at the portion 8 of the apparatus andwould slowly stop up the gap through which the thread moves. Thisundesirable result is prevented, however, by the irregular outer surfaceof the roller 4 which carries away the material accumulating at theregion 8. In the illustrated example, the single groove 7, which may bethe only irregularity in the outer surface of the roller 4, carries awaya greater amount of material than would be carried away by random irregularities in the outer surface of the roller. The sharp edge 7a sizesthe material accumulating at the gap and efficiently carries thismaterial away from the gap during rotation of the roller 4.

A brush 15 may be mounted on the support 3 in engagement with the roller4 to clean the latter.

Devices are already known for moving a thread past a roller providedwith scratches, with the aid of a feeding means located before and afterthis roller. These scratches are intended to remove fuzz-likeenlargements from the thread. This apparatus does not accomplishPatented Sept. 25,1956

the desired results, however. With this apparatus the thread is requiredto be guided very accurately with respect to the roller since otherwisethis roller not only would remove enlargements from the thread but alsowouldinjure the thread itself. Structures of this type are incapable ofbeing. used satisfactorily with modern machines for moving the thread athigh speed.

' The structure of the invention is exceedingly simple and guaranteesthat thread of an exceedingly uniform diameter will be supplied to therest of the textile apparatus. The apparatus of the invention is easilyreplaceable and is also adjustable so that it may be used with the mostvaried types of threads.

' It willbe understood that each of the elementsdescribed above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in. other types ofthread cleaning process and apparatus differing from the types describedabove.

While the invention has. been illustrated and described as embodied inthread cleaning process and apparatus including a turnable roller, it isnot intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and. being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn in apredetermined direction; and means connected to said roller for turningthe same and moving the surface portion thereof adjacent said knife edgein a direction opposite said predetermined direction.

2. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn;feeding means for feeding a thread to be cleaned in a predetermineddirection through said gap; and turning means operatively connected tosaid roller for turning the same and moving the surface portion thereofadjacent said knife edge in a direction opposite to said predetermineddirection.

3. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn in apredetermined direction, said roller having an irregular outer surface;and means connected to said roller for turning the same and moving thesurface portion thereof adjacent said knife edge in a direction oppositesaid predetermined direction.

4. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning, member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a rollermounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn in apredetermined direction, said rollcr being formed in the outer surfacethereof with an elongated groove substantially parallel to said knifeedge of said cleaning member; and means connected to said roller forturning the same and moving the surface portion thereof adjacent saidknife edge in a direction opposite said predetermined direction.

5. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn, saidroller having an irregular outer surface; feeding means for feeding athread to be cleaned in a predetermined direction through said gap; andturning means operatively connected to said roller for turning the sameand moving the surface portion thereof adjacent said knife edge in adirection opposite to said predetermined direction.

6. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own wis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter .a gapthrough which a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to bedrawn, said roller being formed in the outer surface thereof with anelongated groove substantially parallel to said knife edge of saidcleaning member; feeding means for feeding a thread to be cleaned in apredetermined direction through said gap; and turning means operativelyconnected to said roller for turning the same and moving the surfaceportion thereof adjacent said knife edge in a direction opposite to saidpredetermined direction.

7. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thead of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn in apredetermined direction, said roller being formed in the outer surfacethereof with at least one groove; and means con- 1 nected tosaid rollerfor turning the same and moving the surface portion thereof adjacentsaid knife edge in a direction opposite said predetermined direction.

8. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge;

a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis on said support andbeing located at a predetermined distance from said knife edge of saidcleaning member to form with the latter a gap through which a thread ofa predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn, said roller beingformed in the outer surface thereof with at least one groove; feedingmeans for feeding a thread to be cleaned in a predetermined directionthrough said gap; and turning means operatively connected to said rollerfor turning the same and moving the surface portion thereof adjacentsaid knife edge in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

9. Thread cleaning appanatus comprising, in combination,v a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; and a roller mounted for rotation about its ownaxis on said support and being located at a predetermined distance fromsaid knife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gapthrough which a thread of a predetennined thickness is adapted to bednawn, said roller being formed in the outer surface thereof with atleast one groove having a sharp edge at said outer surface of saidroller.

10. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of la predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn,said roller being formed in the outer surface thereof with at least onegroove having a sharp edge at said outer surface of said roller; feedingmeans for feeding a thread to be cleaned in a predetermined directionthrough said gap; and turning means operatively connected to said rollerfor turning the same and moving the surface portion thereof adjacentsaid knife edge in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

11. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, :a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and lllaving a threadcleaning knife edge; a. roller mounted for rotation about its own axison said support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn;cleaning means for cleaning said roller, said cleaning means being inthe form of a brush mounted on said support and engaging said roller;feeding means for feeding a thread to be cleaned in a predetermineddirection through said gap; and turning means operatively connected tosaid roller for turning the same and moving the surface portion thereofadjacent said knife edge in a direction opposite to said predetermineddirection.

12. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn inI2. predetermined direction; means mounting said cleaning member on saidsupport for automatic movement at said knife edge thereof toward saidroller when the resistance to thread movement through said gap exceeds apredetermined value; and means connected to said roller for turning thesame and moving the surface portion thereof adjacent said knife edge ina direction opposite said predetermined direction.

13. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; athread cleaning member mounted on said support and having a threadcleaning knife edge; a roller mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support and being located at a predetermined distance from saidknife edge of said cleaning member to form with the latter a gap throughwhich a thread of a predetermined thickness is adapted to be drawn;means mounting said cleaning member on said support for automaticmovement at said knife edge thereof toward said roller when theresistance to thread movement through said gap exceeds a predeterminedvalue; feeding means for feeding a thread to be cleaned in apredetermined direction through said gap; and turning means operativelyconnected to said roller for turning the same and moving the surfaceportion thereof adjacent said knife edge in a direction opposite to saidpredetermined direction.

14. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; acleaning member turnably mounted on said support for movement about apredetermined axis and having a knife edge adapted to clean a thread;spring means operatively connected to said cleaning memberfor urging thesame in a predetermined direction about said axis; adjustable stop meansmounted on said support and engaging said cleaning member to limit theturning movement thereof about said predetermined axis under theinfluence of said spring means; and a roller having an axis parallel tosaid predetermined axis and being mounted for rotation about its ownaxis on said support, said roller being located at a predetermineddistance from said knife edge to form with the latter a gap throughwhich thread to be cleaned is adapted to move.

15. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; acleaning member turnably mounted on said support for movement about apredetermined axis and having a knife edge adapted to clean a thread;spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urgingthe same in a predetermined direction about said axis; adjustable stopmeans mounted on said support and engaging said cleaning member to limitthe turning movement thereof about said predetermined axis under theinfluence of said spring means; and a roller having an axis parallel tosaid predetermined axis and being mounted for rotation about its ownaxis on said support, said roller being located at a predetermineddistance from said knife edge to form with the latter a gap throughwhich thread to be cleaned is adapted to move, said roller being formedin its outer surface with an elongated groove substantially parallel tosaid knife edge and having a sharp edge at said outer surface of saidroller.

16. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; acleaning member turnably mounted on said support for movement about apredetermined axis and having a knife edge adapted to clean a thread;spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urgingthe same in a predetermined direction about said axis; adjustable stopmeans mounted on said support and engaging said cleaning member to limitthe turning movement thereof about said predetermined axis under theinfluence of said spring means; a roller having an axis parallel to saidpredetermined axis and being mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support, said roller being located at a predetermined distance fromsaid knife edge to form with the latter a gap through which thread to becleaned is adapted to move, said roller being formed in its outersurface with an elongated groove substantially parallel to said knifeedge and having a sharp edge at said outer surface of said roller;feeding means for feeding the thread to be cleaned in a predetermineddirection through said gap; and turning means operatively connected tosaid roller for turning the same and moving the surface portion thereofadjacent said knife edge in a direction opposite to said predetermineddirection.

17. Thread cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; acleaning member turnably mounted on said support for movement about apredetermined axis and having a knife edge adapted to clean a thread;spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urgingthe same in a predetermined direction about said axis; adjustable stopmeans mounted on said support and engaging said cleaning member to limitthe turning movement thereof about said predetermined axis under theinfluence of said spring means; a roller having an axis parallel to saidpredetermined axis and being mounted for rotation about its own axis onsaid support, said roller being located at a predetermined distance fromsaid knife edge to form with the latter a gap through which thread to becleaned is adapted to move, said roller being formed in its outersurface with an elongated groove substantially parallel to said knifeedge and having a sharp edge at said outer surface of said roller;feeding means for feeding the thread to be cleaned in a predetermineddirection through said gap; turning means operatively connected to saidroller for turning the same and moving the surface portion thereofadjacent said knife edge in a direction opposite to said predetermineddirection; and a brush mounted on said support and engaging said rollerto clean the latter.

18. A method for cleaning a thread, comprising, in combination the stepsof moving a thread in a first predetermined direction aiong its lengthover a transverse knife edge so that one side of the thus moving threadis engaged by said knife edge; and moving a surface engaging the otherside of the thread at a point located opposite said knife edge in asecond direction opposite to the first predetermined direction.

19. A method for cleaning a thread, comprising, in combination the stepsof continuously moving a thread in a first predetermined direction alongits length over a transverse knife edge so that one side of the thusmoving thread is engaged by said knife. edge; and moving a surfaceengaging the other side of the thread at a point located opposite saidknife edge and being located in a plane defined by the thread and bysaid transverse knife edge continuously in a second direction oppositeto the first predetermined direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 20,925Richardson July 13, 1858 791,686 Fredenburgh June 6, 1905 915,300MacColl Mar. 16, 1909 1,534,071 Morse Apr. 21, 1925 2,122,989 PetersonJuly 5, 1938 2,172,566 Olson Sept. 12, 1939 2,266,900 Owens Dec. 23,1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,429 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1938

